Do you know anyone who seems like the least likely person to ever turn and follow Jesus? You look at them and think, “There’s just no way…” Maybe the person you think of as the least likely Jesus follower is you.

Well, today we’re looking at the story of Saul (who becomes Paul) in Acts 9. He was a man who thought he would never, ever follow Jesus. And the people around him agreed. He was the least likely person to ever give his life to Jesus, because he was obsessed with destroying the lives of Christians, and wiping out the story of Jesus for good.

And yet, all of that changed over a three day period in a house on Straight Street.

This is part 2 of my conversation with Ann Swindell.

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Guest: Ann Swindell

Bible Passage: Acts 9:1-22 ESV

Get your Freebie: The Live Like It’s True Workbook

Mentioned Resources: 

• • Pathway to Peace by Ann Swindell.
  • Season 2 of Live Like It’s True

Music: Cade Popkin Music 

Producer: Maria Lyons

Summer Giveaway

Two ways to win:

1. If you haven’t yet, sign up for my Live Like It’s True Workbook and you’ll be entered for a chance to win.
2. Find one of my posts pointing to this episode on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter and either tag a friend or share.

Summer Standout Series

Today is part 2 of a conversation with Ann Swindell, which is part of my Summer Standout series. Over the summer, I’m connecting with a handful of fellow Bible study authors who are releasing a new study, and so I’ve let them choose the story from the Bible that we’ll be talking about.

Ann Swindell

Ann Swindell and her writing have been featured widely by The Gospel Coalition, Risen Motherhood, (in)courage, Proverbs 31 Ministries, and other publications. She is the owner of Writing with Grace and holds an MA in Writing from DePaul University and an MFA in Creative Nonfiction Writing from Seattle Pacific University. Ann lives in West Michigan with her pastor-husband and their children. Learn more at annswindell.com.

Find Ann:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Twitter

Path to Peace

Half devotional, half Bible study, Ann’s new book shares how our paths follow similar trajectories as key biblical characters…very human characters. As we all search for peace—overwhelmed, fearful, and stressed over all kinds of things—God is there, paving the way to lead us back to Him. And God’s peace is what allows our souls to rest. Gretchen Saffles of The Well-Watered Woman called this book, “a balm to your soul, a beacon of hope, and a declaration of God’s loving-kindness that never fails for his people.”

Win a Free Copy

You have two ways you can enter to win the set of Bible studies and books I’m giving away this summer:

1. If you haven’t yet, sign up for my Live Like It’s True Workbook and you’ll be entered for a chance to win.
2. Find one of my posts pointing to this episode on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter and either tag a friend or share.

 

Setting up the Story

Saul is the Pharisee of Pharisees. Trained by a most prestigious Rabbi, he knows the word of God like the back of his hand and he keeps the law like nobody’s business. He thinks he’s on the road to Damascus with papers in hand to get busy with God’s work, but Jesus stands in his way and temporarily blinds him.

What happens next will send Paul’s life in a whole new direction he never saw coming.

 

The Live Like It’s True Workbook

One of the things I’m hoping, with my free Live Like It’s True Workbook, is to help you develop is an eye for seeing the stories of the Bible as more than just stories. As western thinkers, we’re far more accustomed to considering abstract ideas, and listening to propositions and arguments. But But the stories of the Bible communicate rich theological truths, and they do so in a way that is less abstract and so easier for us to remember and refer back to.

I think this is particularly true of the story we’re going to look at—which, ironically, is the story of Paul—who loved to use both propositional arguments and story to proclaim the one True Story of God. I think Paul would love the fact that we’re using his story to refute the world’s false narratives.

GET YOUR FREE WORKBOOK

Included:

• The 4-page True Story Worksheet
• The 1-page True Story Worksheet
• 2-sided bookmark with Study and Story Tools
• False Narrative Watchlist
• “Awakening to the False Narratives”
• Four Reasons Journaling Prompt
• Storytelling Content Podcast Directory

 

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